Parish School Celebrates the New Wilhelm Johnson Scholz STEM Lab

PARISH SCHOOL CELEBRATES THE NEW WILHELM JOHNSON SCHOLZ STEM LAB

Together with the community, St. Peter School celebrated a great milestone for the school with the dedication of the new Wilhelm Johnson Scholz STEM Lab on Nov. 4, 2021. What started out as an idea between Principal Cindy Venvertloh and Chris Reichert to replace the computer lab became a reality through the generous support of the Scholz family and the greater St. Peter community.

“The Wilhelm Johnson Scholz STEM Lab is designed to foster an excitement and love for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for students in kindergarten through eighth grade,” Mrs. Venvertloh says. “We are so excited to provide our students with the opportunity to have handson experiences, as well as real-life experiences with trying to solve problems.”

The STEM lab curriculum is divided into grades K-3, 4-6, and 7-8 in order to engage the children most effectively at their level. Through modern tools like 3D printers, Lego Robotics, and blue/green screens, the children have valuable opportunities to investigate and solve problems. The exposure to these resources allows our students to learn more about STEM careers and foster their interest in these subjects.

“The most exciting part of the lab is the student’s excitement to come to the STEM lab,” Mrs. Reichert says. “The lab has created a new place where learning is fun!”

Throughout the fall semester, projects executed in the STEM lab included reenactments of the Mars Rover landing, the study of butterflies, coding a robot to travel through mazes, and the mixing of colors to create the color wheel. During the dedication on Nov. 4, students shared some of their STEM creations with guests and parents, demonstrating how the children have engaged in these subjects.

“There were many highlights of the dedication ceremony — students interacting with guests with their STEM creations, Fr. Leo blessing the lab, cutting of the ribbon, officially naming the lab, and supporters of the lab seeing how their gifts have been used to create amazing learning opportunities,” Mrs. Reichert says. “But the most moving moment was seeing the video of (Wilhelm Johnson Scholz’s parents) Becca and Jake sharing their son’s life story and how through his memory they created a place where his life will touch so many future student’s lives at St. Peter School.”

Olivia Scholz (fifth grade) and Amelia Scholz are working on the robotic obstacle course to help the robot navigate the course in the STEM Lab.

Indeed, the dedication evening was a grand opportunity to showcase the lab to the community. Many generous benefactors were present and able to see the impact of their sacrificial giving. In less than a year, St. Peter School was able to raise over $58,000 to support the STEM lab. We could not have done this without the community’s support, especially that of the Scholz family.

“I must say, I am extremely blessed to have such a staff that works so hard to make things become a reality,” Mrs. Venvertloh says. “A day does not go by without such forward-thinking to always do our best. Our parent and parishioner support is overwhelming. All of this happens because of the great leadership and support from Fr. Leo.”

Jake Scholz and his daughter, Olivia (fifth grade) use a 3D pen in the STEM lab.

Harper Hough (seventh grade) helps Charlotte Scholz (second grade), Olivia Scholz (5th grade) and Amelia Scholz navigate their robots through the obstacle course that the students created in the STEM lab.

The dedication of the Wilhelm Johnson Scholz Lab — (front, from left) Chris Reichert, Nicole Genenbacher, Amelia Scholz, Charlotte Scholz, Olivia Scholz; (back row) Mary Scholz, Nancy Scholz, Rebecca Scholz, Chuck Scholz, Jake Scholz, Becca Scholz, Suzann Johnson, Cindy Venvertloh.